Havelange favored to regain FIFA job

Havelange favored to regain FIFA job

ZURICH, Switzerland (UPI): Joao Havelange of Brazil seems to have secured his position as president of world soccer's governing body for another four years after a meeting Tuesday with the game's powerbrokers.

Havelange, 77, has held the post of Fifa president since 1974, but there has been recent speculation that two of the sport's leading European administrators, Fifa general secretary Sepp Blatter and Uefa president Lennart Johansson, may oppose him at the Fifa Congress in Chicago in June.

Speculation has been rife that Uefa considers its position in the game to have been watered down by Havelange's pledge to award places in the World Cup finals to emerging nations. Since taking over as president, the Brazilian has expanded soccer's showpiece tournament from 16 to 24 teams, introducing more nations from Africa, Asia and Concacaf.

But after a meeting lasting more than three hours Tuesday, the following statement was released: "The presidents of the five Continental Football Federations and of Oceania, and the president of Fifa, have taken at the meeting on April 5 the following decision concerning the Fifa presidency for 1994-98: The presidents of the five continental federations and Oceania have decided to support Dr. Joao Havelange."

It is the first time in 20 years that Havelange's position has come into question but the outcome of Tuesday's meeting effectively guarantees him a sixth term as president.

Johansson said Uefa had been given a assurance by Havelange that Europe would not lose places for the 1998 World Cup.

"We met with the president," Johnsson said. "He explained to us what happened in the past and we were satisfied with the answers.

"We had an opportunity, in very frank discussions, to clear the table, and when we had the answers we sought, we were satisfied and did not, for the moment, put up a candidate.

"For our part, we are happy, the role of Uefa has been protected in the future."

Blatter later confirmed he had had no intention of challenging the president and was told by Havelange that he would remain as secretary-general for the next four years.

Havelange, himself, said his aims for the next four years included setting up a foundation for children and poorer countries as well as establishing a data center encompassing all soccer information at Fifa's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.